Rosalyn C. King is a distinguished pharmacist, author, professor, consultant, and global health advisor with a career spanning over five decades. She is a long-time member of ASHP as well as the first African American pharmacist employed by the American Pharmacists Association, where she served as the Assistant Director of the Delivery of Pharmaceutical Services in Poverty Areas Project from 1969 – 1971. She has also served as a Public Health Advisor on Pharmaceuticals for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and was the first African American woman elected to the United States Pharmacopeia’s Committee of Revision, where she chaired its now defunct International Health Panel from 1990 – 2000.
King’s commitment to advancing pharmacy practice has extended globally. She has led policy and program development for USAID projects in countries such as Romania, Nigeria, and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States. She also served as the founding director of the Pharmacists and Continuing Education Center at Howard University, training over 2,300 officials from 27 countries. In partnership roles with locals, King enhanced the training of community pharmacists in women's health in Romania and collaborated on the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) flagship project in Nigeria, where she focused on strengthening pharmacists’ contributions to patient care in HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections, and tuberculosis.
King’s numerous accolades include awards from the Black Caucus of the American Public Health Association, Seton Hill University, Montgomery County, Maryland, the National Pharmaceutical Association, and the American Pharmacists Association. Most recently, she was named the recipient of the ASHP Board of Directors Donald E. Francke Medal in 2024.
King's literary contributions cover pharmaceutical care to global health policy, shaping discussions and policies in healthcare. Her authored book, From Watts to the World: A Chronicle of Service, encapsulates her remarkable journey, serving as a source of motivation for healthcare professionals and anyone interested in understanding the impact of determination and passion on a journey of service.
King received a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Duquesne University, a master’s degree in public health with a concentration in health care administration from the University of California at Los Angeles, and a PharmD degree from the University of Southern California. In retirement, she remains dedicated to reducing health disparities and improving public health. Active in community affairs, she resides in Maryland under the watchful eye of her family: Reverend Aaron C. King, Dr. Tina Falika King, and their children – Sterling Richard King and Aaryn Camille King. Her inspiring story continues to be a wellspring of inspiration for future generations of healthcare professionals, especially pharmacists.